Why the Dems will NOT cede the center
Politically speaking, the Republicans were foolish to allow their party to be pushed to the right by a bunch of ideologue crazies as represented by the Tea Baggers. They made efforts to put in policies and laws that are a throwback to the fifties such as the efforts to ban abortion and make contraceptives hard to acquire.
The Republicans moved hard to the right and left an enormous sucking vacuum in the center. It was irresistible in terms of political strategy where the name of the game, much like boxing or MMA, is to control the center of the ring. Now, the Republicans are hopelessly foundering on the rocks. With a shrinking base, they have no future other than to try to reclaim the center as best as they can.
And so, they will try to move to the center, to a sort social issue-free conservative financial center, one with a strong military, a desire to work with the other party, firm family values, tough on crime, liberal gun laws... but they will find that it has been taken. By the Democratic Party. And THEY ain't leaving.
For better or worse, the Democrats have stolen the center, drank the Republicans' milkshake -use whatever metaphor you want. To ideologues and idealists on the left, it is not great news because they will not be budging. But politically speaking, it is a touchdown, grand slam and knockout rolled into one. I do not see how Progressives go forward from here except very, very slowly perhaps. It will take an enormous effort to push for any meaningful change and frankly, it will not come from the top down but only from the bottom up such as in the case of gay marriage and cannabis reform. And maybe that is a good thing. Time will tell.
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